February 29, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - You're the Designer: If you had to design a popular mass-market T-shirt, what kind of design/message would you produce?
Q2 - Parlez-vous francais: Without looking it up, how many countries border France? Can you name them? Regardless of whether you can name them, do you think it's important for people to know the answer to this question or questions like this one?
Q3 - What he Said: Yesterday, during a press conference, President Bush fielded the following question from a reporter:
Mr. President, you've stressed over and over in recent days particularly the importance of keeping America safe, and yet you have not yet filled a key national security post--Homeland Security Advisor. Fran Townsend announced her resignation as Homeland Security Advisor months ago, in November. What is the delay there, and what are Americans to make of that delay? Is America less safe because of it?
The President's response:
We got a fine man named Joel Bagnal working that office right now. He's a professional. I trust his judgment. He's a real good guy. And no, they shouldn't worry about Joel. He knows what he's doing. Joel Bagnal has occupied the position. He's doing the job, and I've got confidence in him. And so should the American people have confidence in him. He's a fine professional. He knows what he's doing. And I'm very comfortable in saying, on your cameras, that our staff in the White House, led by Joel Bagnal, knows what they're doing when it comes to advising the President on matters of homeland security.
Apparently, the Homeland Security Advisor position is one that needs to be officially appointed by the President, yet he hasn't done so. Knowing only what you just read, do you find the President's response to the reporter's question (as well as his handling of the matter) acceptable?
Q4 - Cell Phone Plan: Recently, Verizon announced a new cell phone calling plan that allows customers to place an unlimited number of calls anywhere in the U.S. at anytime of the day for $99 per month. Within hours of announcing the new plan, several other cell phone providers matched Verizon's price and terms. Taking into consideration how much you pay for your current cell phone plan (assuming you have one), what do you think of the $99 rate plan?
Posted by Mikal at February 29, 2008 12:06 AM
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1. You're the Designer: That's tough. Before deciding, I'd interview every teenager in America to find out what they want. Then, just to spite teens everywhere, I would put a picture of a turtle on the shirt with a comicbook word bubble that says, "What? You ain't never seen a turtle before?"
2. Parlez-vous francais: Hmm... my international geography isn't that great. Spain, Germany, and Austria? Una momenta while I check ... Dang. I got two of them right. Dang Switzerland for blocking Austria from bordering France! And dang me for forgetting the other guys.
Is it important for me to know who borders France? No, not really. Important for me to at least know what the European countries are and at least have the ability to quickly find them on a map? No, not really. Me not being able to find countries on a map doesn't affect anybody. People whose knowledge of geography is important and/or affects others, then yes, they should probably know. Oh yeah, also anybody who goes on a game show where they might ask that question.
3. What he Said: Response was appropriate, and exactly what I would expect from a politician. Handling of the matter... well, he probably ought to appoint somebody. Old Joel is probably pissed that he has to do the job without the official title! I'd bet he's wondering why he hasn't gotten a pay raise yet.
4. Cell Phone Plan: I use maybe 100 of my available 1,000 minutes each month. Then my wife uses anywhere from 300 to 500 of them, and a third phone we have on the plan uses almost none. We generally use around 1,000 minutes each month, but thanks to free T-Mobile to T-Mobile and free nights an weekends, only 400-600 minutes are actually deducted from the plan. It costs me $79.99 for all three phones on a family plan. So for three phones on the unlimited Verizon plan I expect would be $119.99 (additional $10 per phone). Definitely not worth it for me, but I imagine many many businesspeople (and teenagers) will be all over it.
Q1 - I have ideas for a couple T-shirts, but I wouldn't share the ideas until I was actually selling the T-shirts. I have to give you credit, though, Mikal - this is an excellent way to start gathering ideas for your new T-shirt factory.
Q2 - Three I can think of: Germany, Spain, and Italy. Yes, I do think questions like this are important. As a whole, I think Americans are too insular. We need to start becoming more aware of the different countries and cultures of the world and develop a clearer understanding of our differences.
Q3 - I think it's embarrassing, and I can't believe Bush is still holding press conferences. He should be filling the vacancies and dealing with any other responsibilities he may have and send someone who has well-honed public speaking skills out there to deal with the press, until the new president arrives. How 'bout Rumsfeld or Cheney?
Q4 - I think it's an okay deal for some people, but I wouldn't sign up for it. My wife and I share a cell phone (I rarely use it), and we get by on less than $40 a month. Of course, we also have a land line that we pay $45-$50 a month for. If you had only one phone, it'd be an okay deal, but that's not an option for us, because we seem to live in a dead zone for cell phone service - very weak signal no matter which service you use.
Found you guys through buzz.yovia. Good info and great site
Q1 - Crap! I am a designer! this better be good.
My message would probably be political in nature, not that anyone should really be influenced by a T-shirt. Maybe something showing our gagillion dollar debt? Or where the water will be on your torso when the ice caps melt?
USA! USA!
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html
Q2 - I'll go with...Spain, Italy and Germany? 3? I'm not sure it's important to know exactly how many or what they are. BUT, it IS important that everyone should be able to find France on a world map in under a second.
Q3- I pretty much hate everything our president says and with him and his cohorts constantly raping the constitution, they are probably reading this response right now. 'Hi Bushie! Only 325 days left for ya!'
Anyways, I think 'Homeland Security' is a gigantic joke. It's a scare tactic used to stop people from questioning their government's shady tactics.
Follow or die. And take your shoes off at the airport or else! Meanwhile... how's that search for Osama going? Oh... right...right...
Q4 - I have 400 minutes and never use em. I wish I could have less. I took my Nokia snowboarding the other day in hopes I would fall on it and break it so I could get a new one. Darn Nokia is bulletproof!
Dang. i sound like a crazy political extremist. i don't mean to, I just think our current government has failed us in every way possible.
q1: one that says "eat more broccoli".
q2: I decided I better answer this myself before reading others' answers. Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and maybe Bulgaria no, no it's Belgium not Bulgaria. I think it's important that people should have a good idea and even more importantly know how to find the answer.
q3: I actually heard that part of the press conference. I believe the reporter re-asked the question after Pres Bush's response and he more or less said the same thing. It could have been handled much better. He acted defensive and failed to answer the question.
q4: I wouldn't buy it. I have a $49 shared plan with my wife and we rarely go over our 400 anytime minutes.
Q1 - I'd want to create one of those retro-looking, hillbilly-esque shirts. Like that one that says "Canada! America's Hat" and shows a map of the US wearing a baseball cap. Or the one of a map of Montana that says "Welcome to Montana! Yes, we do have electricity." But I'm not sure I'm creative enough to make up my own.
Q2 - Yes, we should know about world geography, but how many countries border France isn't a top priority in my mind. (My guess is 5: Spain, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Belgium.) I think geo-political issues are more important and something that Americans are even less likely to know about.
Q3 - Was he just repeating himself over and over to try to get a good soundbite? It seems like every top position is held by an interim appointee. I don't know what affect that has on our government exactly, but it does feel like nothing can really be accomplished without a committed head. I bet Bush is waiting till just before the inauguration of the next prez, or just after the election, to fill key rolls like this.
Q4 - That sounds like a better plan for businesses. We spend about $80/month for 2 phones because we don't make calls across the country for hours on end. And just because I want to mention it - I hate cell phone contracts.
Q1 - Shirt Designs:
Election, Aggression, Recession ... What's Next?
FYI - I heard a great line for a shirt last week when planning to walk for Breast Cancer in the coming months, "Save 2nd Base!" I thought it was funny!
Q2 - Well ... I called off the ones I knew, and I missed Luxembourg ... it is just so small that it is hard to picture in your head. I think it is good to know your geography, but not critical in today's world. You can Google Map the world if needed to find something.
Q3 - Pres. Bush needs to appoint someone, and he is surely bypassing the process by calling out that a professional is manning the post ... this is not acceptable, but then again a lot of what Pres. Bush has done is not acceptable. Let's hope the next president has a better set of core values to build from!!!
Q4 - I like the unlimited minutes for a family plan, which they also have now. I have added my brother, and soon my Dad, to my plan and we keep having to up the minutes, so it is good to know there is a cap of unlimited and it is within reason. From a business perspective, I am sure this will surely being putting question of canceling a land-line in many people minds.
1 - "Blog this!"
2 - I feel like i'm a loser on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" - my first instinct is Italy, Germany, Spain, so three, but I'm quite certain I'd get kicked out of school for that one. Yes, it's important.
3 - At least he got the words right. Solely from reading the transcript, it seems he's hiding something. How many times and how many different ways can you say, "he's the right guy" and yet no nomination for him.
4 - It's amazing to me how few people use their cell phone minutes. I blow it up every month so i'm thrilled. Guess i need to get a life :)
Q1- "You Betta Didn't", "It's Chowda" or "Nancy, Ya Gawbage"
Q2- That's easy...Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, and Boston. (I would say Germany and Italy, I would be really digging deep for more guesses.)
Q3- No wonder the position hasn't been filled yet...Bush doesn't know anyone that "know's what they are doing" enough to meet the job requirements. Give the guy a brake.
Q4- Na, I pay quite a bit less than the $99 and prank people just to use more minutes and still don't exceed the amount I have available. It wouldn't be worth it for me.
1. "Will Work For Money"
2. Spain, Italy...I think geography is good to know, as long as you're in the general area, and you don't think Sweden is one of the border countries.
3. The president seemed to be avoiding giving a real answer to the question. He doesn't know what's going on. How much longer are we stuck with him?
4. My current plan is less than half that amount and I still don't use all my minutes, so it wouldn't be very useful for my needs.
1. something either entirely meaningless, or something incredibly profound
2. luxemburg, spain, belgium, switzerland, monaco, italy, germany, netherlands
3. absolutely not acceptable as blanket, subjective statements! What else can we say - it's President Bush - typical.
4. I pay $60 a month for 1000 minutes, including a Blackberry data plan. I don't think I've ever come close to using 1000 minutes. AND, I get weekends and nights free. Why pay that much more for something that I'm likely never to need or use?
1- Something humorous... this example is ripped off, but something along the lines of:
Haikis are easy
But sometimes they don't make sense
Refridgerator
2- Top of my head... 6, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Andorra, Belgium. Looked up, I missed Luxembourg and Monacco. I think a basic knowledge of geography is a good thing... clearly those little countries don't matter ;)
3- I've never felt that office really ever made me more safe, so in that sense I can't say I care. On the other hand, its grossly negligent for our government and Bush to create these systems and then fail to follow up.
4- Its about time these guys started offerinf these kinds of plans. On the other hand... I think the price is going to have to be cut in half before it becomes enough of a deal to hook me.
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